Crutchfield to and Chief of Artillery, Valley District, July 28, 1862

Near Gordonsville, Va., July 28, 1862.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the different batteries of this army in the actions of June 8 and 9 at Cross Keys and Port Republic:

* On Sunday morning, 8th instant [ultimo], about 9 a. m., the advance of General Shields’ division approached Port Republic on the Swift Run Gap road, and, while a part of their cavalry dashed into the village, they opened fire from a section of artillery on the bridge across North River. Soon these two pieces @ 6-pounder gun and 12-pounder howitzer) were brought across South River and planted in the village. As soon as their firing had disclosed their approach Capt. George W. Wooding brought out his battery on the bluffs across North River and

opened on their infantry, which, to the amount of four regiments, was then near the town. The enemy’s advance was soon driven out of Port Republic by the Thirty-seventh Virginia Infantry and their 6-pounder gun captured. About this time the batteries of Captains Carpenter and Poague were brought out by Brigadier-General Winder and posted on the heights on the west bank of the South Fork, and their fire directed on the retreating cavalry and still advancing infantry of the enemy. Just then I came up, and encountering the major-general commanding, he directed me to remain there in charge of these batteries, and also for the purpose of forwarding to him—about Cross Keys—any dispatches sent to him by Colonel Munford, commanding Second Virginia Cavalry. The fire of our batteries was capital. The enemy’s infantry soon broke and fled down the river, followed up by our guns on the opposite bank for nearly a mile, when they disappeared in the woods around a bend in the road.

I waited till about 2.30 p. m., and there being no signs of any intention on the enemy’s part to return, I rode over toward Cross Keys where the battle had been raging between the forces of Major-General Ewell and Major-General Frémont since about 10 a.m. I found our batteries posted in good positions on a commanding ridge to the left of the road. Their fire had been directed by Brigadier-General Elzey up to the time he was wounded, and I found them holding their ground well, and delivering their fire with accuracy and spirit. Those engaged were the batteries of Captains Courtney, Lusk, Brockenbrough, Rice, and Raine, while those of Cutshaw and Caskie were held in reserve. As I got up I found Captain Courtney’s battery withdrawing from the field, as also a part of Captain Brockenbrough’s, having exhausted their ammunition. Upon inquiry I found the other batteries getting short of ammunition, and as the ordnance train had taken a different road from the one intended, and was a considerable distance away, I slackened their fire to correspond with that of the enemy.

Some of these batteries suffered a good deal from the enemy’s fire of small-arms, but all held their ground. At one time those of Captains Rice and Raine had to be withdrawn to the rear for a short distance for this reason. Captain Raine’s battery was particularly well and gallantly managed, he having his horse shot, and serving a gun himself when short of cannoneers. The enemy’s fire soon ceased and his guns withdrew from the field. None of our guns or caissons were lost or injured in this affair.

On Monday morning, June 9, about 7 a. m., I rode down from Port Republic on the Swift Run Gap road, and found the pickets of General Shields’ advance being driven in by Brig. Gen. C. 8. Winder with skirmishers and Carpenter’s battery. The enemy had a battery of six guns (five of them rifled) posted on an old coaling at Lewiston, from which they soon opened an accurate fire upon our approaching infantry. Their battery was at once engaged by two rifled guns of Captain Poague’s battery, posted in an open field to the left of the road. Just then the major-general commanding sent me back to Port Republic to hurry up the Eighth Brigade of Brig. Gen. R. Taylor. Having done this, I proceeded to order up the rifled guns from our different batteries. Many of them I found short of ammunition from the previous day’s engagement and their ignorance of the exact locality of our ordnance train. To supply them consumed some time, and they could only go on into action in succession. Those ordered up were guns from the batteries of Captains Chew, Brockenbrough, Raine, Courtney, and Lusk, the latter of whom did not get his ammunition in time to engage in action. As they came up they were posted near Captains Poague and Carpenter, on the left of the road, and fired, advancing, a part on the battery and part on the infantry of the enemy. Their fire was good, and they were generally well managed, particularly that of Captain Poague, which was subjected to a heavy infantry fire, and only fell back under orders.

At one time the enemy’s infantry observing, perhaps, the smallness of our supporting force of infantry, advanced across the field somewhat to our left and front, and by a heavy concentrated musketry fire forced back our infantry supports, in consequence of which our guns had to retire. The enemy’s advance was soon checked by an attack on their flank by Major-General Ewell, and our batteries enabled to resume the engagement, but not before the enemy had got one of Captain Poague’s 6-pounder guns, which they either carried off or managed to conceal. When the enemy were finally routed the pursuit was continued by parts of the batteries of Captains Wooding and Caskie with great spirit and serious effect, and the enemy forced to abandon the only gun they were seen to carry from the field.

With the exception of the one gun of Captain Poague’s battery above referred to, none of our pieces or caissons were lost and none damaged. There were captured from the enemy six guns and a 12-pounder howitzer, with caissons, and all the limbers except one. One or two of their caissons and limbers were slightly damaged, and one gun spiked and

‘ the carriage broken and pretty much destroyed. They were all reported to the quartermaster and brought off. The guns were turned over to Brig. Gen. R. Taylor, as also the unhurt caissons, except one gun, which was assigned to Captain Wooding, and a traveling forge given to Captain Brockenbrough.

Most respectfully,

your obedient servant,

8. CRUTCHFIELD,

Colonel and Chief of Artillery, Valley District.

Capt. A. S. PENDLETON,

Assistant Adjutant-General Valley District.

No. 66.

Report of Col. Thomas T. Munford, Second Virginia Cavalry, of operations in May and June.